The sun was coming up when Jack reached the outskirts of Hope Valley. He stopped to look at the town, unsure if he should head there first or go stop by his house to see if Elizabeth was there. He looked down at his clothes and decided it might be a good idea to go get changed even if Elizabeth wasn't there. He urged his horse forward towards the road that would lead him home.

Elizabeth was awakened from a light sleep by Beth calling for her. She moved towards the girl and grasped her hand. "What's wrong, Beth?" She asked in a hushed tone. She didn't want to wake up the other children or the adults that were within earshot sleeping.

'Mrs. Thornton, I am really cold and my throat hurts, bad."

Elizabeth wrapped the blanket she had been using over Beth, then went to get some hot tea with a little honey for Beth's throat. She returned to see Beth was shivering, even with two blankets. She urged Beth to sit up and then she helped her drink the tea. Beth could only take few sips before sleep over powered her. Elizabeth moved the covers up close to the girl's neck and then stood to throw out the tea and was the cup. As she stepped outside into the back of the schoolhouse, she noticed the sun was coming up. She watched for a few minutes, she began to feel same sense of calmness she felt yesterday but much deeper. She hoped that meant the epidemic would be over soon.

Jack ran up the steps of the home he shared with Elizabeth and opened the door. Once inside he hurried to their bedroom, thinking if she was home, she would be sleeping. When he got there, his heart sank. Their bed was perfectly made. She hadn't been sleeping here. He sat down on her side of the bed as he prayed that Elizabeth was one not of the sick. He stayed there for a few minutes, then went to the closet to get a clean pair of pants and shirt. He placed his clothes at the foot of the bed when he spotted what looked like a letter sitting on his pillow. He opened it.

Jack, My Love,

If you are reading this that means you came home before the epidemic was over. Yes, you read right. We have an influenza epidemic spreading through Hope Valley. We have isolated the sick in the saloon and the school house. Dr. Matthews put me in charge at the school; he decided to put all the children in one place and suggested I might be a comfort to them while they are sick.

Please come by the school house as soon as you can. We could use your help.

I love you,

Elizabeth

Jack breathed a sigh of relief; at the time this note was written, Elizabeth was fine. He only hoped she was still fine now. He quickly washed up and changed his clothes before getting back on his horse. As he rode towards the school, he continued to pray, not just for the love of his life, but for the town. Hope Valley and its people had a special place in his heart.

Elizabeth went back into the school house and grabbed herself a cup of coffee. She told Cat Montgomery she was going to sit outside for a while. She walked down the steps and headed to a table, where she took a sip of coffee. She put her head down in her hands and cried; there seemed to be no end in sight for the epidemic. It was beginning to appear that as one person died, two more came down with influenza.

Just then she heard the sounds of hooves coming towards the school. She didn't think much of it since many people came and went on horseback though out the day. She continued to hold her head in her hands as a few more tears fell down her cheeks. Suddenly, she thought she heard her name being called, by a familiar voice. At first she thought she was imagining it was Jack; that she had been wishing and praying for him for so long that she just created the voice in her head. That is, until she felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked up into the worried face of the man she loved.

"Jack! Oh, Jack! Thank goodness you're here." She jumped up into his arms, holding his as tightly as she could.

Jack returned the embrace. "Elizabeth!" He said with an emotion filled voice. "Thank God you are well. I was so worried. Not just about you but the whole town." He paused and brushed away a few stray tears. "I spent the whole ride back praying you would be fine."

Elizabeth looked up at him in confusion. She motioned for him to sit down with her. "What do you mean you worried the whole way back? Didn't you find out when you read my note at the house?"

"I did find the note; that was how I knew to come here. I found out yesterday when I was sending a telegram to Headquarters letting them know the case I was working on was closed. The telegraph clerk had just received the telegram from Dr. Matthews requesting supplies. I heard him discussing it with his assistant. I asked them what town was hit. My stomach went into knots when they said it was Hope Valley. I ran out of the telegraph office, got my horse and headed out of town. I rode most of the night to get here."

"Oh, Jack! I can't imagine how you felt when you heard."

"Elizabeth, even though I was shocked when I heard, a small part of me wasn't. I had been experiencing this weird feeling that something was wrong with you. I couldn't explain it. There were a couple of times I wanted to forget the case and just come home to you."

"I had a strange feeling come over me yesterday, later in the afternoon."

He looked at her, surprised. "You did?"

"Yes. If felt like a sense of calmness, like everything was going to be fine."

"You said you felt this later in the day?"

"Yes and I felt it again this morning. I was watching the sun rise and I felt it again, only this time is was deeper."

Jack looked at her, amazed. "I was riding back into town at sun rise. And it was late yesterday when I started my trip back home. Do you suppose we have a kind of telepathic communication with each other? I knew something was wrong before I found out about the epidemic. I didn't know what it was exactly but I knew you were involved."

Elizabeth pondered what he said for a moment. "The power of love can be pretty strong. We both love each with every fiber of our being. I spent a lot of my time the last week praying for your return."

"That must have been what I felt." He put his arms around her again. She leaned into his embrace, loving the feeling of his strong arms around her. "And you felt that I was returning home." He kissed her forehead. It felt a little warm to him. Suddenly his fear that she would get sick returned. "Elizabeth, you feel warm. Are you feeling ok?" When he received no response, he began to panic. Had she just fallen asleep or did she pass out from the illness? Jack felt tears form in his eyes as he sent a prayer up to God.

Has Elizabeth succumbed to the influenza?